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Macrophage migration inhibitory factor is an endogenous regulator of stress-induced extramedullary erythropoiesis

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Abstract

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor is a well-known proinflammatory cytokine that is released during systemic stress response. Although MIF can affect erythrocyte production, the role of this cytokine in stress-induced erythropoiesis is completely unknown. To extend our previous findings showing that chronic psychological stress stimulates extramedullary erythropoiesis, here we examined whether MIF is involved in the control of stress-induced erythropoietic response. Adult male C57BL/6 wild-type (WT) and MIF-KO (knock-out) mice were subjected to 2-h daily restraint stress for either 7 or 14 consecutive days. The number of erythroid progenitors and CD71/Ter119 profile of erythroid precursors were analyzed in the bone marrow and spleen. Additionally, MIF protein expression was assessed in WT mice. Our results demonstrated that chronic restraint stress enhanced the number of both erythroid progenitors and precursors in the spleen. Stress-induced increase in the number of splenic late erythroid progenitors as well as in the percentage of CD71+Ter119+-double-positive precursors was significantly more pronounced in MIF-KO mice compared to WT animals. Furthermore, repeatedly stressed WT animals demonstrated an augmented MIF expression in the spleen. Unlike the spleen, the bone marrow of chronically stressed WT mice exhibited less prominent changes in erythropoietic stress response and no significant alteration in MIF expression. In addition, MIF deficiency did not influence the bone marrow erythropoiesis in stressed animals. These findings suggest that MIF regulates extramedullary erythropoiesis by inhibiting an overexpansion of splenic immature erythroid cells during chronic stress and indicate a novel role for this cytokine under chronic stress conditions.

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Acknowledgments

Technical help of Mrs. Snežana Marković is appreciated. This work was supported by a Grant (175053) from the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of Republic of Serbia.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neuroendocrinology, Institute for Medical Research, University of Belgrade, Dr Subotića 4, PO Box 39, 11129, Belgrade 102, Serbia

    Sanja Vignjević Petrinović, Mirela Budeč & Olivera Mitrović Ajtić

  2. Department of Immunology, Institute for Medical Research, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia

    Dragana Marković

  3. Clinic of Hematology, Clinical Center of Serbia, Medical Faculty University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia

    Mirjana Gotić

  4. Department of Experimental Hematology, Institute for Medical Research, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia

    Slavko Mojsilović, Gordana Jovčić & Vladan Čokić

  5. Department of Immunology, Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković”, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia

    Stanislava Stošić-Grujičić

  6. Department of Cardiovascular Physiology, Institute for Medical Research, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia

    Milan Ivanov

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  1. Sanja Vignjević Petrinović
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  2. Mirela Budeč
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  3. Dragana Marković
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Correspondence to Sanja Vignjević Petrinović.

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Vignjević Petrinović, S., Budeč, M., Marković, D. et al. Macrophage migration inhibitory factor is an endogenous regulator of stress-induced extramedullary erythropoiesis. Histochem Cell Biol 146, 311–324 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00418-016-1442-7

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